California Criminal Lawyer Blog

Three people were arrested after Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials seized more than 300 marijuana plants at a home in Lancaster. According to a CBS News report, deputies found two bedrooms and a large room in Lancaster that were all converted to a marijuana growing facility. The grow areas had sophisticated lighting and automatic irrigation. A 23-year-old man was arrested inside the home and two others were arrested in the backyard of a home nearby. All three men were arrested for marijuana possession related charges under the California Health and Safety Code.

In California, marijuana possession and use of most drugs, even if it is for personal use, is a felony. Misdemeanor drug offenses include possession of marijuana, being under the influence of a drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia such as bongs, pipes or needles. It is also a felony to possess or buy illegal drugs with the intent of selling them. Evidence for intent to sell can include items such as weighing scales, large amounts of cash or cutting agents. In any drug case, it is important to look into whether the search and seizure was conducted properly by the police. Were the defendant's constitutional rights violated? If that was the case, the court may dismiss the drug or marijuana possession charges.

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A school bus driver in Orange County has been sentenced to 151 years to life in prison for molesting and taking sexually explicit photos of three young girls. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the 54-year-old man lured the girls, including one 7-year-old, into his car with the promise of a trip to Disneyland. He was convicted of 15 felony child molestation counts, sentencing enhancements for committing lewd acts on multiple children, substantial sexual contact with a child, and kidnapping to commit a sexual offense against a child, the report stated.

Sex crimes like child molestation, especially those against young children, are vigorously prosecuted in our criminal justice system in Orange County. If convicted, those accused of child sex abuse may face spending the rest of their lives in prison. In this case, the judge said he issued the maximum allowable sentence because, as a school bus driver, this man was a "predator" who took advantage of his position of trust to exploit and molest these young, vulnerable victims.

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Drug crimes are not only a huge problem in California, but are also a major issue of concern throughout the nation. According to recent FBI reports, drugs and drug-related offenses account for about one-third of all arrests. California has led the nation when it comes to arrests for possession and sale of controlled substances and narcotics. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's statistics for 2009, 28 percent of all incarcerated inmates are there primarily for a drug offense. Last year alone, 10,310 inmates were enrolled in prison drug treatment programs.

A recent news report in The Acorn states that law enforcement officials are also aggressively pursuing drug offenders by joining forces to conduct raids – even outside of their jurisdictions. When it comes to drug crimes, it seems as if there are no boundaries. The article gives the example of a drug case in November when two Simi Valley teens were arrested on suspicion of dealing heroin in East Ventura County. Also, in September, a Simi woman was arrested for operating a cocaine delivery service, which covered Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and the San Fernando Valley.

Continue reading " Southern California Law Enforcement Agencies Actively Pursuing Drug Offenders " »

A 50-year old high school teacher in Redondo Beach has been accused of engaging in lewd behavior in the presence of a student at the local high school. According to CBS news report, the teacher was arrested and booked for arranging a meeting with a minor "for purposes of engaging in lewd behavior." Redondo Beach police officials said that the incident involved a 16-year-old girl. The teacher is accused of talking about sex and engaging in "a sexual act in her presence." The teen reported the incident to school officials. The teacher, who has taught at the high school for eight years, is a married man with two children, according to the news article.

Sex crime charges can have devastating effects on a person’s life. As a teacher who is facing a serious sex crime charge, this individual is looking at prison time, hefty penalties and required registration as a sex offender. This could mean the end of his teaching career. He may not even be allowed to be around children or minors if convicted of this serious sex crime charge.

Continue reading " Los Angeles Area High School Teacher Charged with Sex Crime " »

A female driver was arrested for drunk driving in Los Angeles after she struck and injured three employees doing work on an underground vault for the Department of Water and Power. According to a KTLA News report, the three men were working in the 5800 block of Franklin Avenue in Hollywood, during the early morning hours, when the driver went through the work zone and hit them. The car apparently also hit a Los Angeles DWP vehicle that was parked in the work area. The woman was arrested for DUI. Two of her passengers were uninjured. However, the three workers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Los Angeles, the first thing you need to remember is: you DO NOT have to plead guilty. DUI charges are usually based upon subjective opinions of the arresting officer. Law enforcement officials are trained to look for signs such as the smell of alcohol in the vehicle or on the person, slurred speech or red eyes. But you may have these symptoms even if you did not drink any alcoholic beverages. You're not guilty just because you got pulled over or arrested.

Continue reading " Drunk Driver Hits and Injures Three Workers in Los Angeles " »